Shell opens two US LNG lanes

Hague-based oil and gas giant Shell said it has opened new LNG lanes at two TravelCenters of America (TA) truck fueling stations in the US.

Located in Baytown, Texas and in Lafayette, Louisiana, the locations offer an LNG refueling option to trucks driving to the Port of Houston and through Louisiana. The two stations follow Ontario, California, which was the first site to open LNG lanes under the Shell-TA agreement last year, Shell said in a statement on Tuesday.

LNG fuel is an alternative to traditional diesel for heavy-duty truck fleet owners, as it can be cost-competitive for trucks that cover long distances. It is also cleaner than diesel in terms of sulphur, particulates and nitrogen oxides, and can help reduce well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions.

Elen Phillips, Vice President Fuels Sales and Marketing, North America, for Shell said that more truck owners are making the switch to LNG.

Tom O’Brien, CEO, TravelCenters of America, said that the new ‘super lanes’ are equipped to dispense LNG, diesel and DEF in Baytown, San Antonio and Lafayette. Additionally, because super lanes are integrated with existing fuel lanes, there is no truck traffic flow production. O’Brien added that the company now operates six truck repair and maintenance facilities that perform repair and maintenance on LNG and CNG vehicles.

As customer demand grows in the US, Shell and TA plan to open additional truck fuelling lanes expecting that the strengthening supply chain in North America can give customers reassurance that LNG is becoming a bigger part of the transport fuel mix, according to Christian Buelow, General Manager Downstream LNG, Americas.

Image: Shell